Mouthpiece for tobacco smoking devices



Jan. 2, 1934 R SLEEMAN 1,941,512 I MOUTHPIECE FOR TOBACCO SMOKING DEVICES Filed June 12, 1931 IN V EN TORI Emma/20 LEE/9,4

BY \vxum mm A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES p 7 1,941,512 MOUTHIIECE FOR TOBACCO SMOKING DEVIC Richard Sleeman, New York, N.-Y.

Application Ju ne 12, 1931. Serial No. 543,883

6 Claims. (01. 131-12) This invention relates to mouthpieces for-devices for tobacco smoking,.such as pipes, cigar and cigarette holders, and the like.

- No means has heretofore been provided for efficiently closing the draft bore in the mouthpiecesv of smokers pipes, cigar and cigarette holders, and the like, and as a result when the pipe is carried in the pocket, lint, dirt, and other foreign substances collect in the bore at the tip, 10 choking the bore and necessitating cleaning.

Frequently when the smoker. draws through the mouthpiece, such foreignsubstances are discharged into the mouth of the smoker with very disagreeable effects. An object of the present invention is to provide a mouthpiece having means permitting the smoker to conveniently close the bore prior to setting aside the pipe or holder or depositing it in his pocket, whereby dirt and foreign substances will be effectively excluded from the bore at the tip and nicotine and saliva prevented from leaking into the pocket, with consequent staining of the garment and production of an offensive odor. The invention thus materially increases the sanitation and enjoyment of smoking, and obviates the necessity of frequent cleaning of the bore at the tip.

A further object of the invention is to provide closure means for the bores in the mouthpieces of pipes, cigar and cigarette holders, and the like, which will be highly efficient in practice; which will possess great durability; and which can be applied to mouthpieces at a very nominal cost.

The invention claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a smokers pipe having a mouthpiece equipped with the im- 40 proved means for closing the bore;

Fig. 2, a front view, on an enlarged scale, of the tip of the mouthpiece showing the bore closure means in closed position;

Fig. 3, a View similar to Fig. 2, with the bore 5 closure means in closed position;

Fig. 4, a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing the tip of the pipe before the filler piece and shutter are installed, the filler piece and shutter being illustrated adjacent their respective sockets in the tip of the mouthpiece.

In the practice of the invention, referring descriptively to the specific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, the pipe comprises a bowl A and a mouthpiece B. The mouthpiece .B is preferably formed of hard vulcanized rubber, but may be made of any suitable material, and is provided at its outer end with a fianged portion or tip adapted to hold the pipe between the teeth of the smoker. A bore 11 of .usual form extends centrally and longitudinally through the m mouthpiece. To provide for closing this bore when the pipe is not in use, a slidable shutter 12 is employed.

In manufacturing the improved mouthpiece, the .tip is formed with a transverse groove 13 5- extending from one side of the tip to the other, so that the tip has a top wall 14 and a bottom wall 15, the opposed faces of which are provided with oppositely disposed channels or grooves 16. The top wall of the tip is formed with a cen- 7Q trally disposed notch or recess 17 for a purpose which will hereinafter be readily apparent. The filler piece 18 is fitted in the groove 13 at one side of the tip so as to close that portion of the groove. The filler piece is formed at its top and bottom faces with rounded shoulders 19 adapted to fit snugly in the grooves 16 of the top and bottom walls of the tip. To prevent the filler pieces from being dislodged, a pin 20 is provided. This pin is driven into the filler piece goj, and projects a sufficient distance above the top face thereof to abut against the adjacent end wall of the notch 17.

The movable shutter or slide 12 for closing the bore is substantially similar in form to the g5", filler piece, being provided at its top and bottom faces with rounded shoulders 22 adapted. to fit snugly in the grooves 16 of the tip. The inner edge 23 of the movable slide is bevelled and adapted to mate in tight engagement with the bevelling inner edge 24 of the filler piece. To provide for conveniently moving the shutter back and forth to open and close the bore 11, the slide is provided with a pin 25 adapted to be engaged by the finger tip or nail of the smoker. The pin 25 projects upwardly into the notch 17, and it will be apparent by referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, that the slide may be readily moved to open and closed positions by merely pushing the pin in one direction or the other along the notch 17.

While the mouthpiece has been described as being molded, it is to be understood that the groove 13 and notch 17 may be formed therein by slotting, reaming, or other suitable methods. 05

So far as I am aware, it is broadly novel to provide means whereby the bore of the pipe can be effectively closed to positively exclude the entrance of foreign substances therein when the pipe is not in use.

The fit of the shutter 12 in the groove 13 is made sufficiently snug, so that when the shutter is moved to the closed position shown in Fig. 3 it will remain in such position and not jar loose under the jogglings which the pipe receives when carried in the pocket of the user.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as applied to smokers pipes, it is within the contemplation thereof to apply it to cigar and cigarette holders and other tobacco smoking devices.

While one of the preferred forms of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that various modifications in form, proportions, material, and procedure may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mouthpiece for tobacco smoking devices, the combination of a tip having a draft bore leading therethrough and a transverse groove in the outer end of the tip, and a member slidable in the groove transversely to the bore to close the same.

2. In a mouthpiece for tobacco smoking devices, the combination of a tip having a draft bore leading therethrough and a groove on one side of the tip, and a member in the groove adapted to be slid across the draft bore to close the same.

3. In a mouthpiece for tobacco smoking devices, the combination of a tip having a draft bore leading therethrough and a groove therein, and a member disposed in the groove and slidable therein to a position closing the draft bore, the fit between the member and the socket being sufficiently tight to prevent the member being jarred from closed position by the jars normally encountered in service.

4. In a mouthpiece for tobacco smoking devices, the combination of a tip having a draft bore therethrough and a notch therein and having also a groove leading into said notch, a slide movable in said groove to close the draft bore, and a lug on said slide projecting into said notch.

5. In a mouthpiece for tobacco smoking devices, the combination of a tip having a draft bore therethrough and a notch therein and having also a groove on each side of said notch and leading into the same, a filler piece in one of said grooves, and a slide in the other of said grooves movable therealong to close the draft bore, and a lug on said slide projecting into the said notch.

6; In 'a mouthpiece for'tobacco smoking devices, the combination of a tip having a draft bore therethrough and having a bevelled abutment face, and a shutter slidable transversely of the tip to close the bore, said shutter having a bevelled face complemental of the abutment face adapted to mate therewith when the shutter is moved to closed position, the shape of said bevelled faces being such that they will co-act to exert a wedge friction grip adapted to retain the shutter in closed position.

RICHARD SLEEMAN. 

